Lungani Zungu
President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the speaker of Parliament that he will only be available to answer on the Phala Phala scandal on 29 September.
This is anyway Ramaphosa’s official date for his question-and-answer session in Parliament.
Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula confirmed on Thursday morning that Ramaphosa had written to her saying he will only be available on 29 September.
Angry opposition MPs wanted Ramaphosa to return to Parliament before his scheduled appearance.
Leading the charge is ATM president Vuyo Zungula who accused Ramaphosa of ducking and diving in a desperate attempt to evade accounting to the nation.
Zungula had asked Ramaphosa to answer on the Phala Phala farmgate scandal when he appeared in Parliament two weeks ago.
EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said Ramaphosa must appear in Parliament “as a matter of urgency”.
Siviwe Gwarube, the DA’s new Chief Whip, also chastised Ramaphosa, saying it is unacceptable that he is unable to appear before MPs until his scheduled appearance.
Other opposition parties, including the ACDP, IFP and UDM, joined the charge against Ramaphosa.
Opposition parties will march to the Public Protector’s office on Friday to force acting public protector Kholeka Gcaleka to release the report on the Phala Phala farm robbery.
Earlier this week, the Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele told Scrolla.Africa the president was “too busy” to appear before MPs.
Ramaphosa will visit US President Joe Biden on 16 September to discuss opportunities in trade and investment, energy, climate and health.
Gungubele rubbished claims that Ramaphosa ducked answering questions over the Phala Phala saga.
He said the president was advised against answering questions about the saga as investigations were still ongoing.
Ramaphosa has been in hot water since June after former spy boss Arthur Fraser opened a criminal case against Ramaphosa.
He alleged that an amount which is said to be over $4 million was stolen at Ramaphosa’s farm in 2020, but the theft was not reported to the police.
Fraser, a known backer of former president Jacob Zuma, claimed that Ramaphosa was involved in defeating the ends of justice by allegedly concealing the theft at his farm.
